damned_institute | Nightshift 38: West Wing, South Hall 1-B

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Nightshift 38: West Wing, South Hall 1-B

[From here]

Ophelia carefully opened the door, listening and looking around in both directions for any signs of monster activity. When she was satisfied that there was none that she could detect, she swung the door open and hurried down toward the main hall where more of the moonlight could be seen faintly. Once she got there, she knew she was definitely going to have to keep her guard up, considering that the main hall had been where the big monster from the previous night had been.

[To here]

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The answer was correct: this wasn't the false Touya who'd visited the Institute two days previous, then. Which meant that either it was one of the night monsters, which seemed unlikely given that Yue didn't believe they'd be able to mimic that odd "echo" between the magic that sustained him and its source, or this truly was Touya. Somehow, they'd managed to bring Touya here as well. And seemingly from a different time, as well.

Still the guardian hesitated, though, now not wanting to believe what must be true. It was Touya's slide that finally pushed him into action, and he stepped forward without even thinking about it to take hold of the other's arm, to keep the wobble from turning into a dangerous spill.

"We should find safety," he added quietly, at the mention of monsters. Touya seemed uninjured, but it was best to stay that way, especially if he was so weak. It looked as though the idea of going to the library was out for this evening.

Touya looked up at Yue when he took hold of him, still not exactly aware of what was going on.

He vaguely smiled in Shiki's direction. "It's nice to meet you, Shiki-chan. I'm okay, I wasn't attacked by anything--" The idea seemed strange to him. The worst he'd ever encountered was nearly being drowned by flowers, really. Well... besides the cliff thing. "I'm just very tired. I think I need to sleep."

He wavered a little when he tried to leave the wall. "Why do we need to find safety?"

The redhead looked up at Yue, nodding in agreement. She believed Touya when he said he wasn't hurt, but if he wasn't feeling well, then she agreed. The library could wait for another night.

"It's dangerous here at night," Shiki began to explain, offering her arm when she noticed Touya's shaky steps. "This place is like a hospital during the day, but at night, monsters and other stuff run around the halls. If you're already not feeling well, it's best to get somewhere safe. Otherwise, something might decide to get you while you're down. It's not fair, but that's the way it can work around here."

Kira stepped into the hallway and waited for the other two, glancing around to make sure nothing was going to attack them.

There was a bitter warmth in hearing Utena's voice make the naive promises she had so long ago. It seemed unfair; unfair not even to Anthy but to Utena herself, that that kindheartedness wasn't enough.

She drew her hand back, fist clenched over her heart and looked up at the apparition, hurt.

"I know who you are," She said, although it wasn't the full truth, "Do you intend to continue to hurt me with her voice and image until the novelty runs out? Until it's not a game any longer?"

She felt a wave of sympathy for the creature. Whether it was a pawn in the hospital's game or simply a slave to its own hunger and cruelty, it was a poor existence indeed.

"I know these games. They won't ever fill you or make you feel truly whole... but if it makes you feel better, do what you must to me. Just please, don't dishonor her image. She was a better person than I."

Hokuto smiled at Hanatarou; it was too bad he wouldn't get his sword yet, but it couldn't be helped. "Welcome back."

Okay, to the Greenhouse... at least it was a place she'd never been?

[[To here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/545160.html?thread=45846664#t45846664).

That last waver was the end of the distance Yue had continued to maintain, and he gave in at least partially to the pressure from his other self. Ignoring the arm Shiki was offering, and without pause or allowing any protest, the guardian lifted one of Touya's arms to drape it over his shoulder, then took hold of the young man's waist and rose to his feet again.

"Best to explain once inside," he added somewhat brusquely, doing his best to hide the slight flinch of pain that came as he strained his own only partially healed injuries by supporting Touya. He wasn't about to admit to his own weaknesses, not here and now. Now that they were ready to move, though, he hesitated again with a glance at Shiki. "Your room is likely still crowded. Mine isn't far."

Touya couldn't couldn't support himself without the wall, so he leaned completely on Yue. Normally, he would have noticed that Yue's features, which were usually calm and composed, were strained.

He heard something about monsters and it not being safe if he wasn't feeling well, but none of it really processed. He was still wondering if this was just some sort of dream... with Yue and some random girl he didn't know in it. But if it was a dream, why would he feel tired?

It would certainly have been faster to return to F3, since it was just through the door and down a way - but the others were likely still there, and Yue found himself rather reluctant to subject an obviously exhausted Touya to the inevitable curiosity and questions, no matter how well-meaning it would be. Touya would likely appreciate showing weakness in front of others as much as he would.

"M11," he told Shiki, with a small nod. "Around the corner, first block." He shifted his hold on Touya slightly, jaw tightening against the small flare of pain that caused, and started off down the hall.

[skipping over to here]

This hallway was larger than the last one. Perhaps it was one of the main hallways? There was certainly a good amount of traffic. Although she was inwardly surprised at the number of, what she presumed, prisoners moving around, outwardly, Irene's face remained stoic.

To her right was a T-shaped intersection, and to the left was... What was to the left. It was certainly dark, but that shouldn't have mattered to a hybrid like her. Something was seriously wrong with her eyes. Had she been given suppressants?

To confirm her theory, Irene took a few practice swings with her wooden pole. Each movement was sluggish. Her eyes narrowed slightly at her pathetic movements. Her speed was merely a shadow of its former glory. If Irene had to describe it, she'd say her movements resembled a normal human's.

This will make things difficult. Now she understood why she didn't sense any Yoki. There was no need for sisters to restrain her if her power was only on the level of a human's. Nonetheless, her captors had severely underestimated "Flash Sword" Irene. She would get out of this facility before she bended to their will.

Utena had never seen her friend like this before. The closest to being truly upset that she had seen her before had been on the night of the ball earlier in the school year, when the dress Nanami had given to Himemiya had half dissolved in front of everyone in the ballroom. And this time, there didn't seem to be an obvious way for Utena to rescue Himemiya from such hurt. How could she when she didn't even understand what she was being accused of?

As Himemiya drew her hand away, Utena reached out to gently take it in her own hands. Though she felt a little awkward doing so, she guided her friend's hand back to her and held it against her chest where her heart was beating. "I don't know why you think I'm not me. Who else would I be?" she asked, her blue eyes full of worry. She kept her friend's hand against her bosom, letting the girl feel the warmth of her own pale hands and the thump of her heartbeat underneath. "I'm not that clever, so this is the only other thing I can think of to prove who I am to you. If that doesn't do it, then I don't know what else to say."

The feeling of a human heartbeat under her palm was both frightening and heartening. Made her feel all the more human herself, like those small moments with Utena once had. She melted, just a touch, her eyes softening into an expression resembling comfort, for one hesitant moment in time.

No. Utena was gone. Or dead. Or free. Or all of those things. Anthy was in no shape to play these games with a creature of the institute. She'd had enough of dishonesty.

She withdrew her hand as if hurt somehow, and without a word, turned straight around and began to walk away. No aim, just a forward, brisk escape. She couldn't stand to see Utena's face in this ugly world where Anthy belonged.

Utena felt tears welling up in her eyes when Himemiya turned her back. She really didn't know what else to say. What had happened to make her friend like this? What exactly did this place do to people?

It was in that moment that the sounds of the fighting further down the hall finally registered fully in Utena's ears. She couldn't see very well what was happening, but she could hear hissing and shouting, and she could swear that she saw glimpses of blood as she shone her light further down the hall. Her eyes widened, seeing Himemiya begin to wander straight in the direction of whatever was going on.

"Himemiya, no, not that way!" she cried out, rushing forward and retaking her friend's hand. Rather than holding it gently this time, however, she held on tight, trying to guide the girl back in the direction she had come from earlier. "I don't care if you don't think I'm me. I'm not letting you just walk out there to get hurt. You have to take better care of yourself!" The last of those words seemed much too familiar in her ears, and she felt a disconcerting flash of blank memory in her mind briefly as she ran for the door.

[To here]

[From here.]

As expected, this hall was just as quiet as the rest, but it wasn't as if Sync really minded if there was nothing to distract him. He continued his quick pace, keeping himself next to the wall as he walked along in the darkness.

[To here.]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/544800.html?thread=46018336#t46018336)]

Almost there. Leon shifted his grip on his new sword, already thinking about things like what to wrap the hilt with--could he find some leather in the Patient Possessions room and cut it into strips with his kitchen knife? That would work best. Something to ponder for the future.

Tonight, he would rest.

[back to here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/549786.html?thread=44941978#t44941978)]

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Nightshift 38: West Wing, South Hall 1-B

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